Letter to the Hon. Mitch McConnell, Majority Leader, the Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, the Hon. Charles Schumer, Minority Leader, the Hon. Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader - Klobuchar, Eshoo Lead Bicameral Letter Urging Congressional Leaders to Ensure College Students in Need Have Access to High-Speed Internet

Letter

We write to urge you to include dedicated funding in future legislation to help ensure that college
and university students with the greatest financial need can access high-speed internet during the
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
As colleges and universities across the country have transitioned to distance learning to limit the
spread of coronavirus, many students who relied on campus resources are struggling to continue
their education from home.1 One of the biggest barriers for students of color, students in rural
areas, and other disadvantaged students is lack of access to reliable and affordable internet
connectivity, equipment required for connectivity, and devices. These are all required to
participate in distance learning. Even before the pandemic, only 66 percent of black households,2
61 percent of Hispanic households,3 and 63 percent of rural households had access to
broadband,
4 and one survey found that about 20 percent of college students did not have
consistent access to technology, such as laptops and tablets.
5 Another survey found that 30
percent of students experienced difficulty connecting to the internet when accessing course material online during the pandemic.6 Without action from Congress to address these disparities,
students are at serious risk of falling behind and missing out on job and academic opportunities
provided by the internet.
While the spring semester is ending, colleges and universities are moving summer classes and
programs online and will likely continue distance learning into the next school year. As it
remains unclear when effective treatment or a vaccine will be available, connecting college and
university students to the internet is even more essential.
7
Although the CARES Act included funding for institutions of higher education, it did not include
dedicated funding sufficient to ensure that college and university students have essential internet
connectivity. It is for this reason we introduced the bicameral Supporting Connectivity for
Higher Education Students in Need Act,
8 which is supported by over 60 higher education, civil
rights, and public interest organizations.
9 We urge you to include $1 billion in dedicated funding
in a future coronavirus relief package to establish an Emergency Higher Education Connectivity
fund at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to help ensure that
college and university students with the greatest financial need at historically Black colleges and
universities, Tribal colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and other minorityserving institutions, as well as rural-serving institutions, can pay for at-home internet
connectivity, equipment, and devices such as laptops and tablets.
Thank you for your attention to this highly important issue. We stand ready to work with you to
help keep college and university students connected at this critical time.

Source